Chapter 7: Eileen’s Poetry Reading and an Intimate Phone Call with Simon

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Eileen helps at a poetry reading hosted by her magazine, sells only two copies, and receives a compliment about her “eyes of a poet.” Afterward she goes to a bar with colleague Paula, where they discuss breakups—Eileen confesses that her ex Aidan “got sick of” her. Later that night, alone in bed, Eileen calls Simon, who is in London for a work conference. Their conversation shifts from small talk to a detailed fantasy about a hypothetical “wife” for Simon. Eileen describes the wife’s submissive devotion, and Simon participates, eventually admitting that the most realistic part of the fantasy was when the wife makes him think of a past sexual encounter with Eileen in Paris. They agree to meet in person soon. After the call, Eileen touches herself and falls asleep.

Key Events

Eileen sells two copies of the magazine at the poetry reading and chats with Paula.
An elderly man tells Eileen she has the “eyes of a poet”; she deflects.
After the event, Eileen and Paula discuss breakups; Eileen reveals she feels Aidan got bored of her.
Eileen phones Simon late at night; he is in a London hotel room.
They discuss the poetry reading; Eileen jokes about a “Trump poem” and a “moon in June” line.
Eileen initiates a playful fantasy about Simon’s fictional wife, describing her devotion and their sexual intimacy.
Simon admits that during the fantasy he thought about a past moment with Eileen in Paris.
They agree to see each other soon, and Simon reassures her he will act normal.
After hanging up, Eileen masturbates and then goes to sleep.

Character Development

Eileen: This chapter exposes her vulnerability after her breakup with Aidan. At the poetry reading she masks insecurity with self-deprecation; later, in the bar, she admits she “bored” Aidan. Her phone call with Simon reveals a deeper longing: she uses the fantasy to test Simon’s feelings and to relive past intimacy. Her willingness to direct the erotic role-play shows both confidence and desperation, and her post-call masturbation indicates unresolved desire.

Simon: Simon appears emotionally controlled but responsive. He listens to Eileen’s fantasy without judgment and participates, even expressing gratitude afterward. His admission that he “thought about you in Paris” breaks his usual reserve, suggesting he harbors genuine affection. Yet his comment that the woman he’s seeing is “not my girlfriend” and that she may be seeing others highlights his own emotional detachment and the non-exclusive nature of his current relationships.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Fantasy as emotional proxy: Eileen’s elaborate “wife” fantasy allows her to express desire and care for Simon without direct confrontation. The wife embodies the domestic ideal Eileen imagines Simon might want, but the fantasy ultimately circles back to Eileen herself.
Power and submission: The fantasy casts the wife as worshipful and submissive—Simon is “like a father to her.” This inversion of their real dynamic (Eileen often feels inferior) lets her control the narrative while still placing Simon in a position of authority.
Memory and nostalgia: The reference to Paris—a past sexual encounter—becomes a touchstone. Simon’s claim that it was “realistic” to imagine the wife making him think of that memory suggests that their shared history still holds emotional weight.
Isolation and connection: Both characters are physically alone (Eileen in her bed, Simon in a hotel room) yet they create intense intimacy through voice. The telephone becomes a bridge between their separate, lonely lives.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal for the Eileen–Simon relationship. It moves their dynamic from oblique friendship into explicit erotic and emotional territory. The fantasy scene, while playful, reveals each character’s hidden desires and fears: Eileen craves Simon’s attention and validation; Simon seems to reciprocate but remains guarded. Their agreement to “act like nothing happened” underscores the ongoing tension between intimacy and denial. The chapter also deepens the novel’s exploration of how people use language—both spoken and fantasized—to navigate loneliness and longing.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Eileen construct an elaborate fantasy about Simon’s hypothetical wife?
Eileen uses the fantasy to express her own feelings for Simon without directly admitting them. By inventing a wife who worships Simon and is sexually devoted to him, Eileen can safely project her own desire and also test Simon’s responses. The fantasy allows her to imagine a version of intimacy that feels less threatening than reality.
How does Simon’s admission about Paris reveal his true feelings for Eileen?
When Simon says the “most realistic part of the fantasy was when I started thinking about you in Paris,” he breaks from the playful banter to acknowledge a genuine memory. This suggests that despite his facade of casual detachment, he values the earlier sexual experience with Eileen and still thinks about it. The comment encourages Eileen and reopens a possibility they had left unexplored.
What does the phone call’s structure tell us about the power balance between Eileen and Simon?
Initially, Eileen initiates the call and dominates the conversation with her fantasy—directing Simon’s actions and even his imagined responses. Yet Simon’s calm participation and his final remark about Paris shift the dynamic back toward mutual vulnerability. The balance remains fluid: Eileen leads the fantasy, but Simon’s emotional honesty tips the scales. Their agreement to “act normal” afterward suggests both are wary of upsetting their established rapport.